Paul Wilson takes issue with English Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore’s view that the league and the game are in great health. Even allowing for the fact that Scudamore is a “paid optimist,” few could pretend that the EPL has any surprises in store this coming season. Wilson talked to a Tottenham Hotspur […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
A New Approach To English Youth
After England failed to qualify for Euro 2008, many in the game lamented the lack of quality young players coming through the ranks. But the Manchester United youth academy, and the philosophy behind it, contradicts the generally pessimistic view that the country is lagging behind the more technically gifted nations, writes Henry Winter. The […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
The Revs And The Refs, Part 423
It’s reassuring that when the New England Revolution returns to Major League Soccer action after a month’s break, nothing has changed. All it takes is defeat to prompt Coach Steve Nicol into expressing a forthright opinion on the referee, and now the habit is spreading to the rest of the team. The Revs lost […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Backbone At Last From Red Bulls
After being outclassed by Barcelona in midweek, and finding his team 1-0 down at home to perennially dominant rivals D.C. United Sunday, New York coach Juan Carlos Osorio might have been forgiven for a more pessimistic thought than, “We’ll see what we are made of.” For once, though, his team delivered, showing what Osorio called […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“Mistakes. Very simple. We can’t afford to make mistakes. We’re going to get punished. It was a good example today. For me, very unprofessional mistakes. We are human; we make mistakes. But at this point, this far in the season, we can’t keep making mistakes like that. … We gave the game away, really.”
— D.C. United Jaime Moreno after his team’s 4-1 loss to the New York Red Bulls. (Washington Post)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Extremely good for 77 minutes
[MY VIEW] You have to respect Foppe De Haan for his honesty. The Dutch coach, who before his team’s game against the USA dismissed the Americans as an ordinary team, admitted afterward that he didn’t have a “real team.” As surprising as the U.S. effort was after four straight pre-Olympic games without a goal and an opening game in which it won on a rare sortie, the Dutch no-show in Game 2 was a shocker.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Red Bulls Romp; Fire burns Revs again
[MLS NAMES & NUMBERS/VIDEO] The New York Red Bulls came alive and thumped D.C. United as Juan Pablo Angel struck twice. Taylor Twellman announced his return to form in his injury-plagued season but Chicago kept up its dominance over the Revs. Colorado fell at home while Kansas City held off Chivas USA’s comeback attempt. For the weekend’s MLS highlights …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Well-placed for QF berth but then …
[RECAP] The days of the USA’s total dominance in women’s soccer are over. In its second game at the Olympics, the USA eked out a 1-0 victory over Japan — a scenario that would have been heretofore unimaginable. But after the 2-0 loss to Norway in its opening game, the Americans will take it. With New Zealand on tap for Tuesday, the U.S. women are in good shape to advance to the quarterfinals, but the damage of the Norway loss has been done. They’ll probably have to play Germany or Brazil in the quarterfinals.
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
Coming out of the Cosmos shadow?
We got used to the best in New York. Make that New Jersey — or, more accurately but more clumsily, make it New York/New Jersey. Whatever, the Cosmos — and please note that they dropped the geographical reminder, they were just plain Cosmos — spoiled us.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
MLS Results
New York and New England drew the biggest crowds of the weekend. For MLS game summaries, scoring leaders and this week’s TV schedule. …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
So close yet so far …
[RECAP] The USA was denied of one of its greatest victories in Olympic men’s soccer history when a stoppage-time goal by Gerald Sibon spared the European U-21 champion Netherlands the embarrassment of losing to the Americans. Sunday’s 2-2 tie left the Americans in first place, ahead of Nigeria on total goals, in Group B, but instead of being assured a berth in the quarterfinals, they will probably need a result against Nigeria on Wednesday to advance. A task made all the more difficult because Freddy Adu, excellent against the Oranje, and Michael Bradley will be suspended.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
USL-1 Results
In what could be the last meeting between these Pacific Northwest rivals, the Seattle Sounders beat the Portland Timbers, 1-0, before 12,332 fans at Portland’s PGE Park. The Sounders move to MLS in 2009. Portland intends to apply for one of the two MLS franchises that will be awarded for the 2011 season. For all the results, goal scorers and standings …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Chill beats the Heat in championship
[PDL] The Thunder Bay Chill completed one of the greatest turnarounds in the history of the Premier Development League when it won the 2008 title with a shootout victory Saturday over the defending champion Laredo Heat in the final before 3,451 fans at Texas A&M International University. In the process, the Chill became the first Canadian team to win a PDL title.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Onyewu scores twice, Bocanegra flops
[AMERICANS ABROAD] Oguchi Onyewu and Carlos Bocanegra, the first-choice central defenders on the U.S. national team, had contrasting fortunes with their European clubs. Onyewu scored two goals within 15 minutes and almost had a third as Standard Liege won the Belgian Super Cup with a 3-1 victory over Anderlecht. Bocanegra was less fortunate, earning a miserable rating of “3” — on a scale of 1-10 — from France Football for his French Ligue 1 debut in Rennes’ 4-4 tie with Marseille.
Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
Olympic Soccer TV Schedule
Soccer action resumes on Tuesday when the U.S. women close out group play against New Zealand. Complete soccer coverage is available on the NBC Olympic Soccer Channel and online at nbcolympics.com. Check with your television provider for the availability of the NBC Olympic Soccer Channel
Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
Men’s Soccer Scoreboard
Argentina, Brazil and Italy all clinched berths in the quarterfinals with their second wins of the tournament. Argentina needed a late goal from Ezequiel Lavezzi to beat Australia, 1-0. Ronaldinho scored twice for Brazil in its 5-0 win over New Zealand, while New Jersey product Giuseppe Rossi scored for the second straight game in Italy’s 3-0 victory over South Korea. For all the results and goal scorers …
Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
Postgame from Tianjin
[REACTION] With the need to get a result against Nigeria a distinct possibility — and Freddy Adu and Michael Bradley both suspended — the U.S. players immediately turned their attention to Wednesday’s Group B finale …
Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
Adu tantalizes the Oranje
[USA-NETHERLANDS REPORT CARD] Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney grades the U.S. players’ performance in their 2-2 tie with the Netherlands on Sunday …
Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
USA-Netherlands Coverage
Late goal denies U.S. historic win
Crushing disappointments are all too common in soccer, for deserving teams sometimes fail to win, and last-second catastrophes can undo what transpired the previous hour and a half. On both fronts, the U.S. men’s team took a kick in the teeth Sunday against the Netherlands, which scored on a free kick in the third minute of stoppage time to carve out a 2-2 tie that left the Americans (1-0-1, 4 points) atop Group B yet not yet assured of a spot in the quarterfinals.
Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
What They’re Saying
“Not too many people gave us a chance tonight against the European champions, but we were very close to beating them. We have unfinished business.”
— U.S. coach Peter Nowak after the 2-2 tie with the Netherlands.
Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
USA-Japan women’s coverage
Lloyd strike gets U.S. back on track
Blasting a shot from well outside the penalty area is a longshot, hit-or-miss proposition at all levels of the game, but a first-time strike at the edge of the box is a quintessential opportunity. By converting one such chance, the U.S. women beat Japan, 1-0, on Saturday to start the process of damage repair
Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
Olympic Soccer TV Schedule
Soccer continues Sunday on USA Network with the USA-Netherlands men’s game. Complete soccer coverage will be available on the NBC Olympic Soccer Channel and online at nbcolympics.com. Check with your television provider for the availability of the NBC Olympic Soccer Channel.
Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
Olympic Women’s Soccer Scoreboard
Day 2 of the women’s soccer tournament produced another set of tight games. Five game were decided by one goal, while the China-Canada game ended in a 1-1 tie. With eight of 12 teams going through to the quarterfinals, every team was still alive. For all the results and goal scorers …
Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
Canada tied for first place
Loaded with current and former U.S. collegians, Canada held host China to a 1-1 tie on Saturday in Tianjin to maintain its share of the Group E lead with the Steel Roses.
Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
Postgame from Qinhuangdao
[REACTION] U.S. coach Pia Sundhage was pleased with the response of her players after the loss to Norway, but she admitted that the final minutes of the win over Japan were nerve-wracking.